11/30/11

Hello Lovelies,
I am excited to share with you the third edition of Best of Etsy, a weekly post that highlights a few items from my current favorite Etsy sellers. This week, I wanted to share some amazing vintage dresses that would be perfect for this year's holiday parties! I picked the following dresses based on their classic styles and vintage charm. I am personally not usually one for too many sparkles and sequins, but I totally disregard this near the holidays. The more sparkles the better! I am also loving cream colored dresses with black tights and wedge booties!

Make sure to check out the other lovely items from these sellers' shops too! So, there seems to be a lot going on in my life right now! I have been busy running around doing Christmas shopping , as my family is selling early this year on December 17th. I leave to go home to New Jersey late on the 14th, so that only leaves me two weeks to finish that up! Besides a flurry of shopping, returning, and making gifts, I have also been preoccupied that ITS MY BIRTHDAY FRIDAY! I don't like to make a big deal on birthdays and usually prefer to keep it low key, but I cannot believe I will be 25! That is 1/4 of a century. I am semi going into "what am I doing with my life" crisis mode, but I am going to try to just relax and enjoy the day. On top of holidays and birthdays, I am also moving into a new place at the end of next month, so that is another big exciting thing coming up!

Anyway, you can expect an outfit post later this week, as I finally got some cool shots this weekend. The outfit will include the feather headdress I made for Thanksgiving! I would basically wear some sort of crown, weather it be fabric, feathers, or flowers, every day if I could! Hope you are having a great week so far and enjoy looking at all the pretty holiday party dresses!

11/25/11

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and are now recovering from your food comas! My thanksgiving was terrific. I do have a crafty post thanksgiving post to share with you guys, but I am currently at work so I cannot make this too long! I just wanted to let everyone know that The Braided Bandit's Vintage Etsy Shop is having a Black Friday sale, that will go until next Monday. You will get 30% off any item in the store, including items already on sale! Just enter BLACK30 at checkout! Cannot wait to read more about everyone's holiday, and have a terrific weekend!

11/20/11

I finally got a chance to take a few outfit photos yesterday while it
was still light out! I have been looking for the perfect pleated skirt
for awhile now in my thrift store adventures, and finally found it! I
don't think I am going to be able to part with this one and sell it. I
love the light peachy pink color, but it was slightly hard to make it
look wintry enough! Another great find recently was this pink Nine
West tweed coat! I am not usually a pink person, unless its a very
light pink, but this was hanging right outside the fitting room so I
had to try it on! Of course it was my exact size too. The only problem
was it was missing two of the main buttons. It was marked at $14.99,
which is pretty pricey for this particular Salvation Army store, so I
asked the lady upfront if they would be willing to take any more off
because of the missing buttons. She marked it down to THREE NINETY
NINE!!!!! I was having a kind of crappy day until that point, so I was
super thankful and excited that she did that. It just goes to show that it really never hurts to ask! I also found out that on
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, a volunteer comes in to alter
or hem any item that you buy there for free! Until I get a sewing
machine, this is such an awesome service to know about!

Outfit Details:

Skirt: vintage/ thrifted

Boots: Joyce Leslie

Blazer: thrifted

Sequin Sweater: Forever21 (last season)

Belt: vintage/ thrifted

Tweed Coat: Nine West/ thrifted

I am sure this is going to be a busy and exciting week for everyone with family coming and going and travel plans. I myself am staying in Colorado instead of going home to New Jersey. I will be eating and celebrating with my boyfriends family, so it should be quiet and relaxing. Quite the change to my usual thanksgiving at home, where I never exactly know who will be there and there always at least a few people I do not know that well thrown in. But, I may miss the silly family games we play and my dad's wild rice stuffing! He uses Wild Rice from Minnesota, baked apples, raisins, and walnuts. Oh and lots of butter! Maybe he can mail me a little bit! What is everyone's favorite dish at thanksgiving? I think my favorites are the candied marshmallow sweet potatoes, and regular mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy. I am excited to see what is going to be cooked this year! I think I am just going to go early and help cook whatever they are making instead of attempting my own dish this time.
Alright, well I hope everyone has a good Monday! I am going to try to do another Best of Etsy feature later in the week, so stay tuned! Also, new items are going up in my shop this week, and I am thinking about doing a little Black Friday sale of my own! Make sure to stop by!
xo Hannah

11/9/11

Hello lovelies,
Happy hump day. After today, I only have
one more day of work before I get to go see my best friend in
Indianapolis! I'm so very excited, as I have not seen her since last
Christmas, and even then it was only for a few hours. Also, on
Saturday, another one of my best friends ia driving up from Cincinnati
so we can all be united for the day. I can't remember the last time
the three of us were all in the same place at the same time. We will
be going to the Indianapolis Pet Expo on Saturday during the day. I am
not quite sure what that means except lots and lots of different types
of animals from all over the state. My friend volunteers for a pit
bull rescue organization and her pup will have a fundraising kissing
booth there! Yay! She also has two other foster pit bulls currently and
I cannot wait to meet them and snuggle!

What I am wearing:

Skirt: thrifted

Turtleneck: vintage/ thrifted

Boots: vintage/ thrifted

Tights: Joe Boxer

In other news, I bought this wall tapestry (pictured) about a month ago from Urban Outfitters, but just got around to putting it up last weekend! I had a white sheet hanging on my wall as my little mini photo studio, but decided I wanted to do something a little more exciting. I am in love with this tapestry, I think it is called "A room with a view", and it portrays a little bedroom with vintage furniture, plants, and a city view. Unfortunately, the wall space where it is hanging is not big enough to have the whole thing spread out fully, but I think it still gives a nice little scene! This will now be the backdrop to most of my listings on Etsy. Let me know what you think! I was worried it might be too busy with all the blue lines, but I quite like how the first round of pictures turned out!
The snow and branch photos are a few from a set I shot on my walk to the bus after work in the first snow. The trees were so pretty! The berry picture was taken at dusk and the contrast between the tree and the hazy gray skies is just perfect. I would also like to note that the Fair Isle turtleneck (price- $24.99) I am wearing in the shots will be put up in my shop after my return from Indiana. If you are interested in the top, send me a message and I can reserve it for you directly before it is even put up. Hope everyone is having a great day!

11/8/11

Hello Lovelies,
It has been freezing cold and dark by the time I get home from work, so I do not have any outfits to share with you at the moment. I am also working extra long day this week so I can take Monday and Friday off to go visit my best friend in Indianapolis! I do want to share some amazing vintage fashion prints from Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Glamour that are up for sale at a really cool artistic daily deal website Fab.com. If you aren't a member, you can go to http://fab.com/husaro which is an invitation link. This is not a promotion, just a cool site I thought I would share with you all. All photos and information are from Fab.com. All photos link back to where they are for sale, but you may have to be a member to view everything on the site, I am not sure. Enjoy!

"What I find
so inspiring about these prints is how the photographers actually took
the time to patiently compose compelling images that evoked a quiet
sexiness mixed with unabashed style. Reclaiming retro is what these
classic prints are all about."
– Andre Wagner, Production Coordinator at Fab.com

Against the grand metropolitan backdrop of New York's Chrysler Building, Santé Forlano captures two models in twin, ladylike looks:
pink wool baby doll dresses by Masket Brothers and Virginie of Paris
for Haynette, velvet dome hats by Madcaps, and fur muffs by Ingber. The image appeared in the August 15, 1958 issue of Vogue.

William Bell's playful image, which appeared in the February 15, 1959, Vogue issue, accompanied a short piece on how to wear the latest shoes and stockings. New for spring of '59? Experimenting with matching hosiery and pumps or flipping convention by wearing shoes with various nude colored stockings.

This classic Vogue print is taken from the May 10, 1930 issue. Here, Tilly Losch is wearing a polka dot blouse with a dark jacket, both by Yvonne Carette, and a turban from Boucheron.

This striking, imaginative image features a most unusual dining experience. A model in a black crepe dress and large feather hat by Lilly Daché gazes intently at a cheetah. The jungle cat appears quite civilized,
given the napkin tied around its neck and the champagne bucket next to
its place setting. Leombruno-Bodi's elaborately staged photograph
appeared in the November 1, 1960 Vogue issue.

A sophisticated woman smiles charmingly to someone outside of this photograph's frame. Sitting in a restaurant banquette, she wears a black velvet visor with a rhinestone pin by Dior.
A satin scarf, also by Dior, is tied intricately around her neck and
chest. The chic scene, captured by Henry Clarke, appeared in the
November 15, 1952 Vogue issue.

11/4/11

Happy Friday! Today is the second edition of Best of Etsy, where I
feature some awesome items from some of my favorite Etsy vintage
sellers. The trend being highlighted today is one that I am personally
loving, and that is the cozy "Fair Isle" or Nordic sweaters. There are
so many fun prints out there and they really do not need much styling
to look adorable. Basically the only accessory needed is a mug of
cider or cocoa... Can't really beat that! All photos link back to the
listing, and make sure to check out the other items in these fabulous
shops as well!

This weekend I do not have anything too exciting planned, but I am really hoping to get back on track with things on my to do list. I have so many items I want to list in the shop, including some cozy sweaters! I also am planning on doing a little blog makeover, as this was kind of a template I threw together to have a space to start writing in. Luckily, am dating a graphic designer and he has offered to help me with some things I do not know how to do! It is going to be grey and yellow, two colors I find very calming and love together. Check back next week sometime for a new and (hopefully) improved look! Another thing I hope to get done this weekend is Christmas shopping. (Well, not get it done, but start it...) My family is usually traveling Christmas Day, so we celebrate a little early. At least all the things on my list are actually pretty fun! OH, except the trial gym membership I am starting today... That, I am not looking forward to! I hope everyone has a terrific weekend, and remember to check out these lovely Etsy vintage shops!

11/2/11

As predicted it is another snowy day here in Colorado. Sloshing to the bus is going to get old pretty quickly! Yesterday when I found out it was going to snow I went to Whole Foods to buy stuff to make my own pizza after work. I figured having something yummy to look forward to would make the day go a little bit quicker. I bought pre-made dough, so maybe that is cheating, but for me that is about as homemade as it gets! I also bought brie, fresh mozzarella, baby portabella mushrooms, and a tomato to slice on top of it all. So excited! The only other time I attempted my own pizza was with my best friend/ roommate in college. She got the dough from Trader Joes and we threw whatever veggies and cheese we could find in the fridge on top. It turned out SO GOOD! So, at least I have that to look forward too! I would take pictures as evidence of the fact that I am actually cooking, but I did not bring my camera with me today! Its a shame because the snow actually looks really beautiful on the mountains and trees here as well.

Outfit Details:

Velvet heels: vintage/ thrifted

Mustard trousers: UK French Connection for Sears

Striped top: Ralph Lauren/ thrifted

Scarf: Gift from Mom

Earrings: vintage, gift

Ring: gift friend

I also wanted to share with you guys a little hidden shopping spot that I was super surprised to find! A few weeks ago, I wandered into a Sears Grand (I guess like Super Target?) in search of a shower curtain while on break from work. I think the last time I entered a Sears was probably when I was about 9 shopping for appliances with my parents! I just never really need to go there. But I was so happy I did! I found so many adorable things there and they were all 50-70% off! It was crazy! Apparently French Connection now makes a line for Sears, which is who makes these awesome mustard-hued trousers that are perfect for fall! So, shocked as I was, I would definitely recommend looking one up if there is one near you. Maybe it was just a coincidence and I walked in on a lucky sale day, but I will definitely be back there again! If you do go, let me know what you think! All right, that's it for now, happy shopping and happy hump day!

xo Hannah

P.S. I would like to note that my leg was NOT recently amputated, as it looks like in the first photograph! That was just my awkward version of a pose :)

11/1/11

Hello Lovelies,
Hope everyone had a terrific Halloween and
Halloweekend! <-- (Just added that to my computer's dictionary, it
is obviously a real and necessary word!) My weekend was really good,
but too short as usual. I went and saw the band the Cold War Kids on
Friday night, and they were really good. I didn't know I even knew so
much of there stuff until I heard them live. To me, they are the type
of band I don't know its them a lot of the time when I hear it
on the radio, but I recognize the songs. The group of girls I went
with and I all wore wigs which made the evening even better!

Outfit Details:

Velvet heels: vintage/ thrifted

Tights: target

Floral cardigan: Sears Grand

Peach Cami: Forever21

Black high-waisted shorts: vintage/ thrifted

These pictures are from two weekends ago when I went to stay on a ranch in Rocky Mountain National Park for the boyfriend's birthday. We got great weather up there, it was so beautiful! The pictures were taken right outside of our room. I took a picture of my velvet heels after romping through the high grasses and dirt, perhaps not the best shoe choice for the occasion, but they are super comfy and go with everything!. The last photo is a view from our balcony-- such an amazing view! I could have just sat out there all day in the sun reading a book with some cocoa and been completely happy.

I have loved seeing all of the other bloggers' Halloween costume posts, such creative ladies! I was a character from the HBO show Game of Thrones (its also a book series). I was Daenerys Targaryen (khaleesi), who is the queen of a tribe. Her character kicks some major booty on the show, you should check it out! I am not usually really into dragons and such, but the digital imagery on the show is awesome, as are the medieval clothing and hair styles. (Oh yes, and the plot..)

Anyway, it is supposed to snow here again tomorrow, what a bummer. Not looking forward to trekking through the snow to work all winter! Hope you all are having better weather than we are! Also, feel free to leave links to your costume posts, I would love to see them!